Hello All
Monday, Part IV is Skagway, Alaska.
Skagway owes its birth to the Klondike Gold Rush. Thousands of gold-seekers poured into Canada over the Chilkoot and White Passes on their way to Dawson City. The first boatloads of stampeders arrived here in July of 1897, and by October of that year the town had boomed to a population of 20,000. By 1899, the rush was mostly over, and the town dwindled to 500. Today, Skagway has a population of about 850. It was awe-inspiring to be in this town that has so much history contained within its boundaries.
The false-fronted buildings and boardwalks dating from gold rush days still line the streets. The Klondike Gold Rush National Park and the White Pass & Yukon Route railway are the town's major attractions.
The scenery is beautiful, with jagged snow-covered peaks soaring all around. The narrow harbor accommodates giant cruise ships, freighters, and pleasure boats of all kinds.
We didn't stay long in Skagway, since there were two cruise liners docked and the town was filled with tourists -- too many people for us! We drove around and admired the old buildings, took a bunch of pictures, and headed back up White Pass and returned to Whitehorse.
Then we headed east on the Alaska Highway, stopping for the night at a campground in Johnson's Crossing, YT.
More later!
Cheryl & Don
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